Apparatus for the treatment of disorders of tissue and/or the joints

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the treatment of disorders of tissue and/or the joints in the area of the jaw or neck of a patient (10), particularly for the treatment of periodontosis, is depicted, wherein the apparatus comprises a housing (4) that surrounds at least the area of the jaw or neck to be treated. A number of coils (6) is also provided for generating at least one electromagnetic field (E) which can be applied to the area to be treated. The coils (6) are arranged in the interior (5) of the housing (4).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of tissuedisorders and/or disorders of the joints (arthropathies) in the area ofa patient's jaw or neck, particularly the treatment of periodontosis,using one or more electromagnetic fields.

PRIOR ART

The application of an electromagnetic field for the treatment of chronicdisorders of the locomotor system, such as the joints, ligaments andback, is known in principle. Such disorders include for examplearthroses, i.e. degenerative joint trouble, as well as tendinoses,degenerative ligamentary and tendinous trouble, rheumatic disorders suchas inflammatory disorders of the joints, and acute injuries caused bysports-related or industrial accidents.

In this way, the Applicant's patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,904 or U.S.Pat. No. 5,453,073 for example show an apparatus for the application ofan electromagnetic field in order to treat inflammatory or degenerativedisorders of the joints, especially arthrosis.

An organ of the body to be treated, such as a limb, a section of thespinal column, an elbow or knee joint, is placed inside an annular coil.Because the organ of the body to be treated is arranged in this waywithin the aperture of the annular coil, it is possible to transfer anelectromagnetic field induced by the annular coil to the organ of thebody to be treated. The healing process within the affected organ of thebody can be promoted by the applied electromagnetic field. Theelectromagnetic field causes endogenous regeneration to be stimulatedand cartilage or connective tissue in the diseased organ of the body tobe continuously regenerated.

It has, however, also been shown that diseased tissue or joints of thearea of a patient's jaw and neck cannot be effectively treated using theknown apparatus. In this way, specific treatment of atrophy of theperiodontal tissue, i.e. gums, alveolar periosteum and alveolar bone, orarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint cannot be effectively performedbecause it is extremely difficult for the jaw area to be treated to bepositioned correctly within the annular coil such that theelectromagnetic field is selectively applied only on the periodontaltissue and/or temporomandibular joint and can take effect directly atthe site of treatment. The known apparatus therefore cannot be used forthe effective treatment of specific disorders of the area of the jaw,such as periodontosis or arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint, notto mention the area of the throat and neck, such as whiplash injuries,muscle strains and degenerative trouble.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In view of these drawbacks and remaining problems associated with theapparatus known in the prior art, the present invention is based uponthe object of providing an apparatus which ensures with minimumstructural design outlay a systematic and effective application of atleast one electromagnetic field to tissue to be treated and/or to ajoint or joints to be treated in the area of a patient's jaw or neck.

This object is solved by an apparatus according to the inventioncomprising the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the apparatus for the treatment of tissuedisorders and/or arthropathies in the area of a patient's jaw or neck,particularly for the treatment of periodontosis, comprises a housingwhich surrounds in an ergonomically beneficial manner at least the areaof the jaw or neck to be treated. It is therefore possible to place thehousing on the patient's head very close to or directly over the tissueand/or temporomandibular joint to be treated. The housing according tothe invention is made from any suitable material, though particularlyfrom plastic, e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene or the like, or asuitable metal, e.g. aluminum. The use of plastic ensures a particularlylightweight structure for the housing. Savings can also be achieved interms of the housing's weight and material by designing the housing tohave a shell-shaped structure. Advantages in terms of productiontechnique are also obtained by designing the housing according to theinvention as a molded plastic part.

A number of coils is also arranged within the housing; these coilsgenerate at least one electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic fieldor fields induced in the coils is or are applied to the area to betreated, whereby the healing process in the tissue or joint to betreated can be stimulated by the electromagnetic field energy. As far asthe patient is concerned, the electromagnetic field is applied at thecenter of treatment completely without pain, without having to operateat the treatment site. The individual coils are also accommodated withinthe housing such that they are reliably supported and secured inside thehousing. As a result of this layout, the coils are positioned in thehousing in a manner that protects them from outside effects orinfluences, such as impacts, dirt accumulation or tampering. The size ofthe housing depends on the expansion and number of the coils disposedtherein and is dimensioned to be at least so large that all the coilscan be completely received therein.

The treatment apparatus described not only makes it possible to providein a simple and effective manner a housing shape that is adapted to theshape of the jaw and neck and which is consequently very beneficial inergonomic terms, but also allows the electromagnetic fields generated bythe individual magnetic coils to be systematically applied to differentareas of the jaw or neck, particularly to the periodontal tissue in thejaw, since the coils located inside the housing can be guided very closeto the center of treatment and directly placed there. The provision of anumber of coils always ensures that at least one coil ends up over therespective center of treatment in the jaw or neck area. According to theinvention, the distance between the respective treatment center and theparticular coil closest thereto is reduced to a minimum. As a result,the flux lines of the electromagnetic field or fields must travel only avery short path to the treatment site. The strength and intensity of theelectromagnetic fields generated in the coils is therefore almostcompletely maintained at the site of treatment, i.e. in the periodontaltissue, on the temporomandibular joint and/or nuchal tissue, ensuring aparticularly effective application of the electromagnetic field to thediseased tissue or joint. Compared with conventional apparatus in whichlarge surface areas of an organ of the body are subjected to theelectromagnetic field, the magnetic field's flux lines can therefore beselectively aligned with the periodontal tissue, temporomandibular jointor nuchal musculature and systematically applied there.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the furtherclaims.

According to an advantageous design feature of the invention, thehousing has a U-shaped contour. Designing the housing to be U-shapedadvantageously adapts the housing to the outer contour of the patient'shead in the area of the jaw and neck. In the case of periodontosistreatment, the patient's head is arranged between the two shanks of theU-shaped housing so that the housing extends substantially along theouter contour of the jaw from one temporomandibular joint to the otherand across the front of the head. When treating trouble in the neckarea, e.g. whiplash injuries, muscle strains or degenerative trouble, onthe other hand, the housing is arranged at the rear of the head, withthe two shanks of the U-shaped housing substantially encompassing theneck area and partial areas of the patient's head. The distance betweenboth the shanks of the housing is chosen such that the head of a patientcan be comfortably placed between the two shanks.

Preference is given to providing a positioning means for positioning thehousing at least over the jaw or neck area to be treated. The housing'sattachment to the positioning means can in principle be of a detachabledesign. The housing is preferably rotatably and pivotably connected tothe positioning means via an arbitrary connecting means, such as a screwor clamping connection or a connecting joint, and is kept in placethereby at the height of the area of the patient's neck and head. Thepositioning means can be advantageously moved in the direction of the X,Y and Z axes and is rotatable around the respective axes and hence canbe arbitrarily positioned so that the housing secured to the positioningmeans can be positioned to optimum effect over the tissue and/or jointto be treated in the area of a patient's jaw or neck. The use of aknown, commercially available positioning means which is arbitrarilyvariable and adjustable in terms of position offers the advantage of aparticularly inexpensive structural design. Attaching the housing to thepositioning means considerably simplifies the overall apparatusstructure's handling. This advantage is particularly effective when theelectromagnetic field generated by the coils inside the housing isaligned with the center of treatment.

To create an effective electromagnetic field, it has proved advantageousfor the coils within the housing to be distributed at a predetermineddistance from one other and/or preferably along the entire U-shapedcontour of the housing. The distance between adjacent coils ispreferably set such that the electromagnetic fields generated by thecoils each overlap in the area between two adjacent coils, causing thefield density and strength to be increased at the sites of overlap. Thisallows the intensity of treatment to be enhanced and the healing processwithin the tissue to be additionally stimulated. It has been shown thatthe tissue absorbs and conducts the electromagnetic energy emitted bythe coils, i.e. during the treatment process, the energy applied to thetissue is evenly distributed across the entire tissue to be treated. Itis therefore also possible to supply electromagnetic energy to thoseareas of the jaw tissue or neck which are not in direct proximity to acoil and to activate the healing process there. In consequence, it hasproved to be particularly beneficial when treating periodontosis for thecoils to be distributed at a constant distance along the U-shapedcontour of the housing, enabling the electromagnetic fields generated bythe individual coils to be evenly applied to the entire periodontaltissue.

It has proved to be particularly beneficial for at least seven coils tobe spaced apart from one another within the housing. This configurationmade it possible in practice to achieve particularly positive treatmentresults.

To make it simple to fit the coils within the housing, the housing ispreferably composed of at least two thin-walled housing members. The twohousing members are each essentially U-shaped along their longitudinalextension, whereby when fitted together, both housing members surround ahollow space. To support the coils reliably within the hollow spaceformed between the shell-like housing members, there are advantages ifthe housing members each have a rectangular cross-sectional contour. Thehousing members can also, however, exhibit any other cross-sectionalshapes, for example a semicircular or polygonal configuration isconceivable. To avoid access from outside or to prevent dirt frompenetrating into the interior of the housing, it is advantageous for thetwo housing members to adjoin one another substantially along theiredges and/or to overlap at their edge portions. As a result, it ispossible to reduce the risk that contaminants penetrate into theinterior of the housing and into the coils, that the surfaces of thecoils clog up and as a consequence adversely affect the quality of theelectromagnetic field's transmission power upon the area to be treated.

To prevent the coils from overheating inside the housing, it has beenshown to be positive to provide ventilation apertures between at leasttwo housing members. The ventilation apertures are advantageously formedbetween the substantially adjacent and/or overlapping edge portions ofthe housing members. This can for example be achieved in that whenassembling the housing, a distance is maintained between the edgeportions of the housing members as a result of providing suitablespacers. The ventilation apertures can also, however, simply be drilledthrough the housing casing or cut through it so as to ensure adequateventilation inside the housing and temperature equalization within thehousing for reliable operation.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the housingcomprises at least two arms which are connected together in a revolvingmanner. The two arms advantageously form the two shanks of the U-shapedhousing. This embodiment makes it possible to guide the coils arrangedin the arms of the housing as close as possible to the patient's headand hence to the particular center of treatment. By pivoting the armsaround their point of rotation toward the patient's head, the coils areplaced directly over the site of treatment, enabling the electromagneticfield generated by the coils to be applied directly and with a highintensity. This embodiment also enjoys the major advantage that thehousing can be adapted to the size and shape of the particular patient'shead and that the housing can also be accurately positioned whenpatients have different shapes of head. Four coils are preferablyarranged in one arm and three coils in the other, or vice versa.

Another advantageous embodiment feature of the invention envisages thatthe coils each have a core which is respectively surrounded by a numberof wire windings. The insertion of a core into the annular coil composedof the wire windings entails the advantage that the magnetic field isadditionally enhanced. The use of a ferrite core is preferred because asa result the electromagnetic fields generated in the coils develop thedesired intensities and propagation characteristics. The wire for thewindings comprises an arbitrary conductive material, such as copper,with the number of windings and the wire's diameter influencing thestrength of the field to be generated.

It has also proved to be beneficial for the center axes of the coilsarranged in the housing to be respectively directed at the area to betreated. In doing so, the center axes are oriented substantially atright angles to the surface of the area to be treated on the patient'shead. The center axes extend substantially parallel to the orientationof the flux lines inside the coils. The flux lines are therefore alignedor oriented toward the center of treatment. As a result, a particularlyeffective transfer of the electromagnetic fields generated by the coilsto the tissue and/or joint to be treated can be advantageously ensuredsince the flux lines move directly toward the area of tissue or joint tobe treated and penetrate same.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, means foroperating the coil with a pulsed d.c. voltage is provided. The coilsarranged in the housing are excited by the pulsed d.c. voltage whichpreferably exhibits an abruptly ascending and abruptly descendingrectangular waveform. The voltage preferably pulses at a frequency of 1to 30 pulses per second to generate an electromagnetic field in the coilof less than 20 Gauss. Advantages are gained if the electromagneticfields generated by the individual coils are each identical, i.e.exhibit the same d.c. voltage and field strength. This arrangement hasproved to be particularly advantageous when treating periodontosis anddisorders of the temporomandibular joint. It is beneficial if a displaywhich is easily visible to the user is attached for example to theoutside of the housing; such a display indicates coil operation, i.e. anexcited electromagnetic field, and makes it possible to identify therespective treatment site. As a result, the duration and nature oftreatment (treatment of periodontosis, the temporomandibular jointand/or neck) is identifiable and can be monitored by the user. Such adisplay may for example be of the LED type.

In this context, it is also advantageous for the coil operating means tocomprise control means with which a predetermined sequence of treatmentperiods and the length of treatment periods can be automaticallycontrolled. It has been shown that particularly good treatment resultscan be achieved by a sequence of 2×5 and 1×50 minutes. The control meanspreferably comprises a circuit arranged on the control means or on thehousing.

As regards systematic application of the electromagnetic fields to theparticular tissue or joint to be treated in the area of the jaw or neck,it is beneficial that the coils can be optionally operated jointly orindependently of one another. In this way, the coils are connected inparallel for example for treatment of periodontosis in which theelectromagnetic fields are to be applied along the entire area of thejaw. This ensures that the electromagnetic fields generated by theindividual coils are evenly applied to the periodontal tissue. Whentreating arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint, on the other hand, ithas been shown to be positive to operate just that coil which isarranged over the particular temporomandibular joint to be treated, i.e.one of the two outer coils in the U-shaped housing. The electromagneticfields can therefore be switched between the individual coils by thecontrol means so that depending on the nature of treatment, the coil orcoils located over the center of treatment can also be selectivelyoperated. This selective application of the electromagnetic fields justto the respective center of treatment made it possible to achieveparticularly effective and positive treatment results in the past.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in further detail on the basis ofthe embodiments depicted by way of example in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a partially cut-away top view of a first embodiment of atreatment apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged, schematic sectional view of the housing of thetreatment apparatus according to the invention as part of the firstembodiment; and

FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of thetreatment apparatus according to the invention.

To avoid repetitions, identical parts and components will also beidentified by the same reference symbols in the following descriptionand drawings, unless it is necessary to draw further distinctions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION'S EMBODIMENTS

As can be identified in FIG. 1, which shows a partially cut-away topview of a first embodiment of the apparatus 2 according to the inventionfor the treatment of tissue disorders and/or arthropathies in the areaof the jaw or neck of a patient 10, a U-shaped housing 4 comprises atotal of seven coils 6 in its interior 5. The housing 4 is shell-shapedand has two arms 8 which are arranged around the jaw area of a patient10. The U-shaped housing 4 surrounds the entire jaw of the patient 10,including the area above the left and right temporomandibular joints.The two arms 8 of the housing 4 are connected together in a revolvingmanner in the bight of the U-shaped housing (FIG. 1) by means of a hingejoint 12 and are made from a non-transparent plastic material, e.g.polyethylene or polypropylene, as a molded plastic part. The arms 8form, in their interior 5, a hollow space for receiving the coils 6.Four coils 6 in total are supported in the arm 8 shown in the top viewon the left next to the head, while three coils 6 in total are supportedin the arm 8 disposed on the right next to the head. The spaces formedbetween the inner housing wall and the coil surfaces are foam-filled bya suitable plastic material.

A positioning means, which cannot be identified in FIG. 1, is rotatablyarranged on the housing 4 by means of a connecting element 14. In thepresent case, the connecting element 14 is attached in the hinge joint12 via a pin 13 and is pivotable on the drawing plane.

The coils 6 shown in FIG. 1 each comprise ferrite cores 16, with copperwire windings 18 being wound around the periphery of a particular core16. The coils 6 in the housing 4 are distributed at a predetermineddistance from one another along the entire U-shaped contour of thehousing 4. The distance A between adjacent coils 6 is calculated suchthat the electromagnetic fields E generated by the coils 6 overlap inthe area between two adjacent coils, as indicated in FIG. 1 by brokenlines.

The individual coils 6 are connected together in an electricallyconductive manner, for example via cables (not shown), and connected tocoil operating means (not shown). When the coil operating means isswitched on, an electromagnetic field E with an equal field strength isinduced in each of the coils 6. The coil operating means is connected toa control means (not shown in FIG. 1) whose circuit is integrated in theconnecting element 14. Operating the control means also makes itpossible to supply just individual coils 6 with current, allowing thecoils 6 to be optionally operated jointly or independently of oneanother. The electromagnetic field E induced by the applied voltage inthe coils 6 is applied to the jaw area of the patient 10. For thispurpose, the housing 4 is made from a material, in this particularinstance plastic, which does not affect the electromagnetic fields Egenerated by the coils 6, so that the fields penetrate outwards from thehousing 4 without interruption and are applied to the tissue ortemporomandibular joint of the patient 10.

The head of the patient 10 located between the two arms 8 of the housing4 is guided as close as possible to an inner side 20 of the housing 4.The two arms 8 are also pivoted via the hinge joint 12 toward the headof the patient 10 until they make contact with his head. This ensuresthat the coils 6 are placed adjacent (FIG. 1) the head of the patient 10directly beside the area to be treated. The coils 6 are positioned inthe housing 4 in such a way that the coils' center axes 22, which extendparallel to the course of the flux lines within the coils 6, aredirected at the particular center of treatment.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged schematic sectional view of the housing 4 ofthe treatment apparatus along the line II--II according to FIG. 1. Ascan be identified in FIG. 2, the housing 4 is composed of twothin-walled housing members 24. The two housing members 24 each have ashell-shaped or U-shaped cross-sectional form. In the present case, onehousing member 24.2 points toward the face or head of the patient 10,while a housing member 24.4 forms that side of the housing 4 which facesaway from the head of the patient 10. The housing member 24.2 has aslightly smaller height than the housing member 24.4, so that thehousing member 24.2 can be easily inserted into the housing member 24.4.During assembly, the coils 6 are inserted into the outer housing casing24.4 and then the inner housing casing 24.2 is inserted into the housingcasing 24.4 in order to seal the housing 4 above the coils 6. To securethe two housing members 24 together, they are suitably screwed togetherand/or sealed up. As can be clearly identified in FIG. 2, the twohousing members 24 overlap at their respective edge portions 26. Theedge portions 26 of the inner housing casing 24.2 (facing toward thehead) and outer housing casing 24.4 (facing away from the head) end upspaced apart from one another in the area of overlap. The spaces formedin this way between the edge portions 26 serve as ventilation apertures28 for ventilating the housing interior 5. As indicated in FIG. 2 by twoarrows P, the ventilation apertures 28 therefore enable the heatgenerated during operation of the coils 6 to penetrate outwards from thehousing interior 5. This ensures that the heat generated by the coils 6is dissipated to an optimum extent.

The second embodiment of the treatment apparatus according to theinvention, as shown in the exploded perspective view in FIG. 3,essentially differs from the one in FIG. 1 in that a positioning means30 for the housing 4 can also be identified. The structure andfunctioning of the housing 4 and the coils 6 located therein areessentially similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Unlike theapparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1, the housing 4 is, however, rigidlyconnected to the connecting element 14. The movement of the housing 4for positioning on an area to be treated on the patient's head is solelybrought about by the positioning means 30.

As can be identified in FIG. 3, the positioning means 30 comprises aplurality of levers 32 which are hingedly connected together or whichcan be shifted against or into one another. The housing 4 can bearbitrarily positioned via the positioning means 30, as indicated byarrow F in FIG. 3, and can in particular be accurately placed over thearea of treatment on the head of the patient 10.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiments explained above,which merely represent general notional examples. On the contrary, thetreatment apparatus according to the invention may differ considerablyfrom the above exemplary embodiments. For example, the housing accordingto the invention may be made from a suitable material other than plasticor metal. More or fewer than seven coils can also be accommodated in thehousing, depending on the desired intensity of treatment. Thepositioning means can also be of any other design that would allow anexact, simple and easy-to-handle positioning of the housing in the areaof the patient's jaw or neck. For this purpose, the levers of thepositioning means shown in FIG. 3 can also, for example, be fitted withupwardly or downwardly mobile hinge joints.

I claim:
 1. Apparatus for treating the jaw area of a patientcomprising:a. a hollow U-shaped plastic housing comprising a pair ofarms pivotally secured together in the bight of the "U", the housingadapted to be horizontally disposed and receive the jaw area, b. aplurality of electro-magnets mounted inside the housing, each magnetcomprising a ferrite core having an axis directed horizontally at thejaw area, and copper windings on the respective cores, c. a power supplyconnected to the windings and structured to generate a pulsed D.C.current for producing in the coils a field of less than 20 Gaus, pulsingat a rate of 1 to 30 pulses per second.
 2. An apparatus as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the housing is formed with slots to permit ventilation.3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein control means connect thecoils individually or together in parallel to the power supply.
 4. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means tor supporting theU-shaped housing to provide lateral or vertical adjustability.
 5. Amethod of treating the jaw area comprising:a. providing a horizontallydisposed hollow U-shaped plastic housing defined by a pair of armspivotally secured together in the bight of the U-shaped housing, aplurality of electro-magnets mounted inside the housing, each comprisinga ferrite core having windings directed inward of the U-shaped housingand electrically conductive windings on the core, b. providing a powersupply connected to the windings and structured to generate a pulsedD.C. current for producing in selected coils a field of less than 20Gaus pulsing at a rate of 1 to 30 pulses per second, c. placing apatient adjacent the housing with the arms in open position and pivotingthe arms of the U-shaped housing closed to positions closely adjacentthe respective sides of the jaw of the patient.